School may be back in session, but there’s still more festival fun to be had before summer ends. From arts and crafts to music and sci-fi fantasy, there’s plenty coming up in August and Labor Day weekend to keep everyone entertained.
Piedmont Park Summer Arts & Crafts Festival
This year’s festival is Aug. 15-16 and will feature more than 150 painters, photographers, sculptors, leather and metalwork, glass blowers, jewelers and crafters. There will also be a kids area and food trucks. Admission to the festival is free. Hours will be 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Parking will be available in the Piedmont Park deck, but organizers encourage visitors to take MARTA, walk or bike to the festival. For more details, visit piedmontparkartsfestival.com.
This year’s event is Aug. 15 from noon to 8 p.m. in Oakhurst. The event will feature a diverse lineup of blues and bluegrass artists including Beverly Guitar Watkins, The Dappled Grays, Sailing to Denver, Lockdown Blues Band, Michelle Malone and Seven Handle Circus. Serving up barbecue, beer and more will be Fox Brothers, Williamson Bros. BBQ, Sweet Auburn BBQ, Southern Sweets, King of Pops, Banjo Cold Brew and New Belgium Brewing. Tickets are now on sale for $ 10 via freshtix.com. Day of tickets will be $ 20. For more information, visit decaturbbqfestival.com.
The Gant Park Summer Shade Festival
This year’s event is Aug. 29-30 and kicks off on Saturday morning with the Adams Realtors 5K Run for the Park. There will be two artist markets, live music and a kids’ zone featuring games and activities. Festival hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Sunday. Visit summershadefestival.org for more details and full schedule of events.
Festival Peachtree Latino
The multicultural festival will be held in Piedmont Park on Aug. 23 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. featuring exhibitions, children’s activities, arts and crafts, food and live music. For more details, visit facebook.com/festivalpeachtreelatino.
AJC Decatur Book Festival
Erica Jong will be the keynote speaker and launch her long-awaited sequel to Fear of Flying called Fear of Dying at this year’s festival, which runs Sept. 4-6. Hundreds of authors will be in town during the weekend for readings, signings and events. Authors expected to appear include Roxanne Gay, Ron Rash, Sara Paretsky, ReShonda Tate Billingsley, Cat Cora, Pat Conroy, Samuel Delany, Christopher Moore, Elizabeth Alexander, Kevin Henkes, Libba Bray and Saeed Jones. For a full line-up of events and authors, visit decaturbookfestival.com.
Dragon Con
Sci-fi, fantasy and gaming fans will descend on Downtown Sept. 4-7 to meet up with actors, authors, artists and more. Expect plenty of cosplay and nerds losing their minds over the new Star Wars film and the return of Doctor Who. Some of this year’s special guests include Stephen Amell, John Barrowman from the hit series Arrow, Paul McGann, Sylvester McCoy, Jamie Bamber, Amber Benson and Keir Dullea. The annual parade of costumed characters down Peachtree Street will be held on Sept. 5 at 10 a.m. For a detailed schedule and to register, visit dragoncon.org.